{"id":1249,"date":"2026-03-17T10:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T14:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/dragonfly\/?p=1249"},"modified":"2026-03-19T09:13:28","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T13:13:28","slug":"empathy-beneath-the-surface","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/dragonfly\/2026\/03\/empathy-beneath-the-surface\/","title":{"rendered":"Empathy Beneath the Surface"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Reflections from Earth Expeditions Gal\u00e1pagos<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Cosette
Cosette De Ferrari in field gear posing with giant tortoises in a grassy landscape.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Photo by Cosette De Ferrari<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Las Tintoreras remains one of the most profound memories from my time in the Galapagos<\/a>. The small islet, named for the White Tip Reef Shark, Tintorera, is carved with narrow lava channels where these sharks rest. As we moved across the jagged volcanic terrain, the thought of entering the waters that sheltered these magnificent predators filled me with quiet anticipation rather than fear.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have admired sharks for as long as I can remember, but seeing them in their natural environment brought that admiration to a deeper level. When we slipped beneath the surface, a Tintorera appeared, our eyes met. In that brief exchange, I did not see a threat or a symbol of fear; I saw another living being, wild, aware, and deserving of space and respect.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That moment captured the essence of empathy in its purest form. It is the ability to see the world from another\u2019s perspective, even across the boundaries of species. It was not about imagining the shark as human, but rather about recognizing its right to exist free from misconceptions that often surround it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the shark sank back toward the ocean floor, I remained floating in stillness, humbled and grateful. The encounter reminded me that empathy is not born only from shared experience, but from careful observation, respect, and presence. In that quiet underwater pause, I felt a connection that transcended words and left a lasting impression on the way I understand and relate to the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n